Ex Everton player receives highest US accolade

'[Landon Donovan is the best player in the history of the game in our country,' said Bruce Arena after the influential forward extended the terms of his contract with 2012 MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy.

'We are pleased that Landon has re-signed with the Galaxy,' he added, noting that the 31-year-old's signature is a vital part of their plans to maintain the highest standards of football in the USA. 'This signing is instrumental toward our commitment to build a team that can compete for championships year-in and year-out.'

Cultured attacker Donovan is a well-travelled professional having represented Bayer Leverkusen, San Jose Earthquakes, Bayern Munich and Everton. He is a five-time winner of the MLS Cup, has attracted a wide range of individual honours and has received an astonishing 151 national caps for the United States.

At Galaxy, he competes in a side that also contains other familiar names to British football fans including former Chelsea shot-stopper Carlo Cudicini, ex West Ham United midfielder Laurent Courtois and Liverpool, Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur fans favourite Robbie Keane.

Arena concluded: 'We look forward to Landon's continued leadership and excellent play as a member of the LA Galaxy.'